Phases and Stages

Antonio Dionisio

Albums with guest musicians often collapse under the weight of all those gifts. Not so with Songs From Javaland, the second full-length from Brazilian composer/guitarist/vocalist Antonio Dionisio. Tracked in Austin and Rio de Janeiro, Javaland picks up where Dionisio's 1994 debut Afro-Brazilian Rhythms left off: Brazilian-seasoned songs of the African diaspora. Here, however, the proceedings are tighter, yet more diverse. A veteran of Austin's lively international music scene, Dionisio's vast experience, fueled by an engaging personality, serves the tropical troubadour well via an impressive list of co-conspirators: band members from Lyle Lovett, La Tribu, Milton Nascimento, and Paul Simon. Dionisio's compassionate pipes are backed on a few tunes by the trio of reggae queen Tchiya Amet, One World Theatre co-founder Illuminada, and Samba Policewoman/ Catavento member Susanna Sharpe. The ladies shine on "Soukous From the Congo," as do Tamasha African singer Ben Simiyu and guitarist Russell Scanlon. Alejandro Escovedo offers a wonderful, albeit too short, vocal cameo on the ebullient "I Got a Crush on Sissy." Dionisio – O Sol at the center of this planetary talent – plays acoustic guitar while singing in English and Portuguese, and it's Javaland's upbeat tracks, "Samba Gift," "Muqueca," and "Forró o Ano Inteiro" that resonate best. No sophomore slump here, just a genuine international talent and first-rate bandleader.